The name Aesop has become synonymous with fables. We tend to forget that there was probably a person behind them. Accounts vary and records from the ancient world are sketchy; nevertheless, he is mentioned by a number of Greek and Roman authorities. There are any number of stories about his life that you may find in a Life of Aesop book.
Most authorities say that he was born 600 or so years before the common era. He likely died 60 years after that. Many places are claimed to be the site of his birth. Thrace, on the Black Sea coast may be one. Phrygia may be another. Some claim that he was born in Africa.
Many of his fables involve animals from Africa. Because of this and a false etymology about his name, it was often assumed that he was African. This also might be consistent with some of his fables where the slaves triumph over their masters.
Though Hesiod was probably the first Greek to write fables, he is not the most famous. Hundreds of fables are attributed to Aesop and a rich mythos about him grew around his legend. This mythos often depicts him as a slave tricking his masters and gaining his freedom.
A romantic tradition began about his legend, somewhere in the first century CE. It tells of an ugly slave who wins his freedom. The slave them becomes an emissary to King Croesus.
Most sources tell of his death by the hands of the Delphinians. It is said that he was on a mission from King Croesus of Lydia to Delphi. He angered the Delphinians by telling a series of insulting fables. They then sentence him to death on a trumped up charge. Some stories have them throwing him over a cliff to carry out the punishment, while others say that he through himself over a cliff to protest the sentence. In any case, these are the stories you're likely to find in a Life of Aesop book. Life of Aesop Book
Most authorities say that he was born 600 or so years before the common era. He likely died 60 years after that. Many places are claimed to be the site of his birth. Thrace, on the Black Sea coast may be one. Phrygia may be another. Some claim that he was born in Africa.
Many of his fables involve animals from Africa. Because of this and a false etymology about his name, it was often assumed that he was African. This also might be consistent with some of his fables where the slaves triumph over their masters.
Though Hesiod was probably the first Greek to write fables, he is not the most famous. Hundreds of fables are attributed to Aesop and a rich mythos about him grew around his legend. This mythos often depicts him as a slave tricking his masters and gaining his freedom.
A romantic tradition began about his legend, somewhere in the first century CE. It tells of an ugly slave who wins his freedom. The slave them becomes an emissary to King Croesus.
Most sources tell of his death by the hands of the Delphinians. It is said that he was on a mission from King Croesus of Lydia to Delphi. He angered the Delphinians by telling a series of insulting fables. They then sentence him to death on a trumped up charge. Some stories have them throwing him over a cliff to carry out the punishment, while others say that he through himself over a cliff to protest the sentence. In any case, these are the stories you're likely to find in a Life of Aesop book. Life of Aesop Book
Brak komentarzy:
Prześlij komentarz